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LUTHER F. PINGRE, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

Letters Patent No. 104,994, dated, July/5, 1870.

IMIFROV'EMIE!'NTV IN IARTIFICIAL LEG-S.

The Schedule referred to `in these Letters Patent and making part of the same To all'ivhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER F. PINGREE, of Portland, in the couutyrof Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improved Artificial Leg; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof', which will enable others to make and use my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in whichv Figure 1 is a front view,illustrating a portion of my improved leg.

Figure 2 is also a front view of a portion thereof,

with a slight modification.

Figure 3 is a View of the bottom of the toe of the foot, showing what I term the toc-muscle.

Figure 4 is a side sectional elevation of a portion of the foot and ankle.

Fligure 5 shows the method of securing the heelcor( Similar letters show vlike parts.

My invention consists- First, in certain improvements in the case for the thigh, or those portions ofthe leg above the knee.

Second, of a case to receive the leg, when the aluputatiou is in the knee.

Third, of an improved ankle or instep-bal'id.

Fourth, of an improved toe-muscle.

Fifth, of an improved heel-cord.

In iig, 1 is shown my improved case or envelope for the parts ofthe leg above the knee. This case is4 divided vertically in the center.

The two parts c b of this portion ofthe leg-caseare attached to the lower half by means of the points c d, which admit ofthe exing of the knee.

The portion b has also the lateral joint e, which admits ot one-half being thrown oli' laterally in a vertical plane, as illust-rated in g. 1.

The two parts a b, when united, have the pointsf and holes f', to keep them in position.

The edges of contact have the metal strips y.

Around the whole pass the straps It, with buckles.

In this form (fig. 1) it will be seen that the knee is in the open space between the upper and lowerhalves ofthe leg, that portion of the leg below the knee entering the lower socket t. This form is intended, of course, for amputations below the kee.

The upper socket a b very much'relieves the end of lthe stump below the knee from painv and fretting,

where it rests in the bottom of the hollow of' the sock et. This form also applies to amputations above the knee.

Fig. 2 is where the amputation is in the knee, in which there is an extension, j, to receive that portion of the knee remaining, and a space made therein, cor-- responding to the formation to receive the knee, the lateral and vertical joints remaining the same.

Fig. 3 is a bottom'v-iewofl a portion of the foot,

showing the elastic baud or muscle k, to unit-e'the toe part to the other portion of the foot, the point ot"l division being indicated by the line m; This is to per mit-Giftige exnre oi' the foot, or the curling up of the toe in: stepping. l I claim the method of'l attaching the same, to wit: By means of the two metal clamps or boxes n o, into which the ends of the band k are inserted, and then, by means of the bolts and screws, as illustrated, both bandgand clamps are secured to the bottom ofthe foot.. The same method is employed to secure the heel-cord p to the part r of' the foot.

s is an instep-muscle or elastic baud, secured in the same manner as the toe-strap, and employed .to elevate the front part ofthe foot, when the weight is taken oi' from the foot, and it is about to be thrown forward in stepping.

It is securedon the inside of the ankle at t, and to the part 1* at u.

It' will be observed that the under part of the foot is hollowed out, and the metal strip v inserted therein, to protect the operating-parts from injury.

The toe of the foot is attached to the body of the foot by a hinge, inserted between the edges of con-I tact of the toe and the foot.` The toe-band or muscle before described allows the foot to bend when the weight of the body is thrown toward the toe, and when the foot is raised to be thrown forward, imparts elasticity as it is lifted.

The instep-band or muscle, when the weight of the body isthrown upon the heel, prevents the toe of the foot from striking the ground too violently, and raises the toe of the foot when the weightis removed. These muscles or bands can vbe made tight or loose by moving one end andinserting the screw in another hole in the solid substance of which the foot is composed.

The metallic binding on the edges of the bisected socket answers the double purpose of giving stability to the connection of the two parts by means of dowels, and also to secure the edges of the raw-hide covering, which is glued to the external surface of the socket.

The socket, composed of' the two sect-ions, and conl forming, as it does, to the shape of the limb, does 'not have the effect of interrupting the circulation of the blood in the limb, as s-the casewhcn it is laced and swathed, as is common.

The vertical joints of the knee, when the amputaf tion is below the knee, are flexed by the action of the natural knee, the stump being fitted to the lower part of the leg.

These joints are tted with a stop, which prevents t leverage on the stump below the knee, and also prevents their moving backward further than is neces sa' ry to straighten the leg.

The manuel of fastening- -the heel-cord .is by drawing the two ends through the heel, each end being ina, separate hole, then'turning the ends over in the recess in the bott-om ofthe heel at light angles-with the vertical part of the leg, and then placing the bar or binder on the two ends thus turned over, and securing it firmly to the solid part of the foot, the whole lying in the recess or shoulder in the under part of the foot.

What I claim as my invention, and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The bisected socket a b 'and lateral joints e, as

described.

secured as described.

L; F. PINGREE.-

Witnesses:

WM. H. CLIFFORD, FRANKLIN GEAREY 

